Fiber optic implement position determination system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPaul R. Friend, Kenneth L. Stratton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for determining the orientation of an implement relative to a frame of a machine is provided. The implement is attached to and moveable relative to the machine. A fiber optic shape sensing system is associated with the implement. The fiber optic shape sensing system provides the position and orientation of the implement relative to a reference frame that is fixed to the machine frame.
Claims20
A system for determining a position and orientation of an implement relative to a frame of a machine comprising:
- said implement being attached to and moveable relative to said machine,
- a fiber optic shape sensing system associated with said implement comprising:
- an interrogation module mounted to said machine frame,
- a reference frame fixed to said interrogation module and machine frame, and
- a fiber bundle joined to said interrogation module at a proximal end and to said implement at a distal end,
- wherein said interrogation module is configured to receive strain information from said fiber bundle and compute the location of at least one position of said fiber bundle that is associated with said implement relative to the reference frame.
A method for determining the position and orientation of an implement relative to a frame of a machine comprising:
- said implement being attached to and moveable relative to said machine,
- providing a fiber optic shape sensing system associated with said implement comprising:
- an interrogation module mounted to said machine frame,
- a reference frame fixed to said interrogation module and machine frame, and
- a fiber bundle joined to said interrogation module at a proximal end and to said implement at a distal end,
- receiving reflection spectrum information from the fiber bundle in said interrogation module, and
- computing the location of at least one position of said fiber bundle that is associated with said implement relative to the reference frame.
A machine equipped with a system for determining the position and orientation of an implement relative to a frame of the machine comprising:
- a power source,
- a ground engaging mechanism,
- an implement attached to and moveable relative to said machine,
- a fiber optic shape sensing system associated with said implement comprising:
- an interrogation module mounted to said machine frame,
- a reference frame fixed to said interrogation module and machine frame, and
- a fiber bundle joined to said interrogation module at a proximal end and to said implement at a distal end,
- wherein said interrogation module is configured to receive strain information from said fiber bundle and compute the location of at least one position of said fiber bundle that is associated with said implement relative to the reference frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.